Regulator for gas producers



H. A. DREFFEIN REGULATOR FOR GAS PRODUCERS Filed June 1 1920` Apr. 10,'1923.

' maa/mum mf Patented Apr. l0, 1923.

PATENT OFFICE'.

HENRY A. DREFFEIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

REGULATOR FOR GAS PRODUCERS.

Application led June 1, 1920. Serial No. 385,479.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, HENRY A. DREFFEIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Regulators for Gas Producers, o-f which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in regulators for gas producers, and its purpose is to prevent accident and secure greater eiciency in the operation of devices of this kind.

`As gas producers are now generally operated a `mixture of air and steam, formed by an injector, is passed upwardly through the fuel bed in the gas producer, and the amount of gas produced, and they consequent pressure ofthe gas in the gas main and in the storage chamber, is controlled by regulating the flow of steam to' the injector. For this purpose a gasometer, or equivalent device, is connected to the gas main and operated by the pressure of the gas therein to regulate the degree of open- 4ing of a valve in the steam pipe leading to the injector ofthe producer. It has been found in practice that air sometimes leaks into the gasometer, or the connected p'ipes, thus forming an explosive mixture therein, with the result that violent explosions sometimes occur and cause serious damage to the entire apparatus,\as well as injury to those tendingr the operation thereof. l

The principal object of this invention is to overcome the difficulty just pointed out by providing an improved regulator in which' the formation of an explosive mixture in the gasometer or associated parts is prevented. A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid `trap or seal in the connection between the gas main and the gasometer or regulating device. Another object vis to provide improved means for automatically maintaining the liquid seal. A further feature of the invention is the provision Iof `means for maintaining the liquid seal and preventing the `presence of a combustible mixture inthe gasometer by means of amixture of air and steam drawn directly from the injector ofthe gas prodncer. Other objects relate tovarious features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature ofthe inventlon will be un-` derstood froml the following specification,

`taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which one embodiment is illustrated.

The single sheet of drawings represents a somewhat diagrammatic view of a gas producer and the connected apparatusV constituting the regulating system of the present invention, parts of the apparatus being illustrated in section, in order to show the construction thereof more clearly.

In the drawings, the invention is shown in connection with a gas producer 10, having a gas main 11 leading therefrom, and a funnel 12 for introducing fuel. The usual steam injector 13 is connected to the lower part of the gas producer lfor injecting a mixture of air and steam through the bed of fuel. This steam injector is adapted to draw air through the upper opening at 13a thereof, and this air is intermingled with steam, which is discharged through the nozzle 13h connected to the lower end of the steam pipe 14. The steam pipe 14 has a smaller tube 15 leading therefrom to a suitable pressure gauge, and it communicates with a pipe v16 having a controlling valve 17 connected therein for regulating the iow 0f steam. Hand operated valves 18 are connected in the pipe 416 on opposite sides of the regulating valve 17, and a by-pass pipe 19 is connected around the pipe 16 and valve 17, so that the steam flowing from a steam boiler through the supply pipe 20 may be caused to pass around the regulating valve 17 when desired. The by-pass 19 is normally closed by a regulating valve 21.

The regulating valve 17 is controlled by a valve stem 23, which is pivotally connected to an operating arm or lever 24. This lever is pivotally connected at one end to the pivoted link 25 mounted on the valvecasing, and a weight 26 is slidably mounted on the lever 24 to regulate the opening and closing of the valve. The end of the lever 24, opposite the link 25, is flexibly connected to a pulley 28, and this pulley is adapted to be engaged by a flexible cord or rope 29, which is rigidly attached at 30 to a fixed support 31. The cord 29, after passing around the pulley 28, is carried around another pulley 32, which is also suspended from the fixed support 31, and the cord 29 then passes downwardly and is connected at the point 33 to the movable element 34 of a Suitable gasometer, or other pressure-actuated devlce' 35. This gasemeter comprises the cupshaped membery 34, which is'inserted in an invertedA positio'n in the tank or vessel 36 containing water or other fluid 37. A pipe leads upwardly through the bottom `of the vessel 36 and extendsl above the level of the liquid therein, so that the air or other gas discharged by the pipe 38 will enter the space 39 within the member 34y and above the level of the liquid in the tank. This air or gas inthe; space 39- is adapted tocx pandin accordance-with the pressure there of, thereby causingthe member 34 and thev surface of the water 43 contained within the trap. A' pipe 44 leads to the trap 41 just above the level .of the liquid therein, and is connected to the gas main 11. A handoperated valve 45 is connected'in this pipe 44 and-a Unhaped outlet or overflow 46 is also connected in this pipe between the valve and the trap, in order to permit the discharge of the water whichl flows outwardly through theV pipe 44 from the interior of the trap.

The pipe 50, having a steam cock 51 connected therein, communicateswith the pipe 4() between the trap 41 and the pressurecontrolled device 35. Thispipe 50 has a valve 52 connected therein, and it leads through a pipe 53 to the steam injector 13, so that a portion ofthe mixture of air and steam formed Vwithin the injector 13 is adapted to pass through the pipes 53 and 50 to thevpipe 40.' A valve 54l is connected to the end of the pipe 53, in order to permit so that the flow of steam to the injector 13r is Controlled only by the regulating Valve 17, and the flow of steamf and air through thev pipe 5053 is regulated only by the degree of ope-ning of the valves 5l or 52; The mix'- ture o air andsteani which passes into the pipe 4() ynormally has a pressure slightly greater than the pressure of the gas in the main 11, so thatv it will bubble through the' water in'the trap'41 and pass into the pipe 44, where itl mingles with the producer gas. The continual" condensation of the steam contained in the mixture introduced into the pipe 40 will result in automatically maintaining the level of the water`43 in the trap 41,/and thet excess' supply of water will pass outwardly through theU-shaped outlet 46. lVhen' the pressure of the gas inthe main 11 increases, the increased pressure will prevent the contents of the pipe 40 from bubbling through'the water of the trap 41, with the result thatthe continued flow of steam and air into the pipe 40 will increase the pressure of this mixture in the chamber 39 of the gasometer, so that the member 34 of the gasometer will rise and permit a lowering of the lever 24 in order vto close, or par-- tially close, the valve- 17, and thereby decrease the low of steaminto the' injector This will result in a decrease in thevv production ofgas by the gasproducer, sothat the pressure of the producer gas in the main" 11 will then decrease. When the pressure' of the producergas falls below the' desired limit, the contents. of the pipe 40 will again be permitted tobubble through the water in the trap 41, thus reducing the pressure in the chamber 39 of the gasometer and per'-` mitting the valve 17 to open'funder the influence ol the weight 26- on the operating lever 24. In this w'ay the pressure of gas' within the main 11 is maintained substantially constantr at a pressure which may be determine-d by adjusting the position of the weight 26. I

It willbe seen that this automaticv regulation ofthe gas producer is 'effected without the necessity ofy employing'any auxiliary fluidsupply, since the mixtureV of air and steam is taken from the' injector 13,y where this mixture is constantly being formed by a part of the gas-producing apparatus.l Owing to the fact that-only a mixture of air and' steam is introduced' into the chamber 39 of the gasometer, the formation of an explosive'mixture in the chamber of the gasome-ter is prevented, andat the same time the'stea'm mixture has the advantage that it automatically maintainsthe water trap` 41 by which the flow of producer gas from the main'11l to the gasomet'er is prevented.

Althoughl have shown and described one embodiment of the invention, for purposes of illustration, itA will be understood that it may befcon'structed in various other forms without departing'from the spirit of the invention, as defined in theappended claims.

I claim f 1. The combination with a gas producer of an injector for introducing a' mixture of air and steam into said producer, a-steam pipe lea-'ding into said injector, means actuated in proportion to the pressure of` the gas give-nv olf` by said produeer'or regulating the How of steam through-said. pipe,and means for positively preventing the flow of producer gas into said regulatingmeans.

2.The combination witha gas producer of an injector forintroducing-a mixture of air and steamintosaid'producer, a steam pipef leading into said injector,.a valve in said steam pipe, a pressure-actuated device for operating said valve, means for conveying a mixture of air and steam from said injector to said pressure-actuated device, a conduit adapted to receive gas discharged by said producer, and means common to said conduit and said conveying means for positively preventing the flow of producer gas from said conduit into said pressure actuated device while permitting the flow of said mixture in the other direction.

3. The combination with a gas producer of an injector for introducing a mixture of air and steam into said producer, a steam pipe leading into said injector, a valve for controlling the flow of steam through said pipe, a gasometer operatively connected to said valve for regulating the opening' and closing thereof, a conduit leading from said gasometer to the gas main of said producer, means for conveying a mixture of air and steam from said injector to said conduit, and means connected in said conduit for preventing the flow of producer gas in one direction and permitting the flow of said mixture in the other direction.

4. The combination with a gas producer of an injector for introducing a mixture of air and steam into said producer, a steam pipe leading into said injector, a valve for controlling the flow of steam through said pipe, a gasometer operatively connected to said valve to regulate the opening and closing thereof, a conduit leading from said gasometer to the gas main of said producer, a fluid trap connected in said conduit, and a pipe leading from said injector and communicating with said conduit between said trap and said gasometer for conveying a mixture of air and steam thereto.

5. The combination with a gas producer of an injector for introducing a mixture of air and steam into said producer, a steam pipe leading into said injector, a valve for controlling the flow of steam through said pipe, a gasometer operatively connected to said valve to regulate the opening and closing thereof, a conduit leading from said gasometer to the gas main of said producer, a fluid trap connected in said conduit, and a pipe leading from said injector and communicating with said conduit between said trap and said gasometer for conveying a mixture of air and steam thereto, said trap being adapted to permit the How of said mixture therethrough when the pressure of said mixture is above the pressure of the producer gas and to prevent the How of the producer gas therethrough when the pressure of said producer gas is above the pressure of said mixture.

6. The combination with a gas producer of an injector for introducing a mixture of air and steam into said producer, a steam pipe leading into said injector, a valve for controlling the iow of steam through said pipe, a gasometer operatively connected to said valve to regulate the opening and closing thereof, a conduit leading from said gasometer to the gas main of said producer, a fluid trap connected in said conduit, and a pipe leading from said injector and communicating with said conduit between said trap and said gasometer for conveying a mixture of air and steam thereto, said trap being adapted to permit the iiow of said mixture therethrough when the pressure of said mixture is above the pressure of the producer gas and to prevent the 4flow of the producer gas therethrough when the pressure of said producer gas is above the pressure of said mixture, said trap being automatically maintained by the condensation of said steam.

7. The combination with a gas producer of an injector for introducing a mixture of air and steam into said producer, a steam pipe leading into said injector, a valve for controlling the flow of steam through said pipe, a gasometer operatively connected to said valve to regulate the opening and closing thereof, a conduit leading from said gasometer to the gas main of said producer, a fluid trap connected in said conduit, a pipe leading from said injector and communicating with said conduit between said trap and said gasometer for conveying a mixture of air and steam thereto, said trap being adapted to permit the flow of said mixture therethrough when the pressure of said mixture is above the pressure of the producer gas and to prevent the flow of producer gas therethrough when the pressure of said producer gas is above the pressure of said mixture, and means for permitting the overflow of water from said trap.

8. In combination with a producer, a gas main leading therefrom. a steam pipe leading thereto, a regulating valve associated with said steam pipe, a gasometer, means operatively interposed between said gasometer and said regulating valve, a fluid trap, a duct leading thereto from said gas main, a second duct leading thereto from said gasometer, and means to supply non-combustible fluid under pressure to said second duct, whereby the iow of gas from said main to said gasometer will be prevented.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

HENRY A. DREFFEIN. 

